Monthly report - August 2022

Posted on September 1, 2022 by Boris
Updated on May 1, 2023

It’s funny how much is dictated by nature and its mood. Today is incredible weather, so I am listening to the Antirăzboinică album by Valeriu Sterian and looking forward to a new month. Yet it’s interesting to look back before making the next step. So here I am, writing a new monthly report. And here you are, reading it.

Was this month active? Yes! But in a lazy fashion. In total, I consumed 98 wines and rated only 77 of them (with two repeats). What else? Two wine tasting events and three informal gatherings (all big enough to get me drunk) behind, and many evenings lulled by white wines. That explains the number of consumed wines. Yet as you can see, I rated 11 wines less this month.

Novelties

It may sound like I am a meanie. But I am not! Believe me or not (and you better do), this month’s average rating is 7.652 (and that’s 0.1986 higher compared to the previous month). It’s just that the novelties this month are not so exciting (apart from the excitement I get from tasting something new).

Favourites

Traditionally, preparing a list of my favourites is a tough task to accomplish. I try to avoid listing wines based solely on my scores (you can do it yourself by sorting the table below). Instead, I try to pick wines that really stood out for me. So this month my favourites are the following bottles.

  • 8.5 Victoria E. Torres Pecis Sin Titulo NG 2017 is my favourite red wine of the month. It is beautiful, complex and full of character. And it doesn’t cost all the money! In my opinion, this wine is an incredible bargain.
  • 8.0 Ca’ di Mat Andrinal 2017 is another favourite red of the month but more affordable (e.g. in the category ‘below $20’). Among the Top 5 wines sorted by QPR. Made by skilful winemakers that are also responsible for Fedellos do Couto and Peixes. I had to buy more.
  • 8.2 Patrick Sullivan Baw Baw Shire Chardonnay 2019 is my favourite white of the month. Yes, I am biased when it comes to this region, but Baw Baw Shire Chardonnay brings so much enjoyment to my heart and brain that I can’t resist!
  • 8.0 Marco de Bartoli Vignaverde 2019 is another favourite white of the month but more affordable (e.g. in the category ‘below $20’). Among the Top 5 wines sorted by QPR. It is an incredible Grillo with great QPR. Clean, precise and delicious. A few sips ended with me buying more bottles.
  • 8.0 Denavolo Dinavolino 2020 is my favourite macerated white of the month. And it’s also refreshingly good compared to previous vintages. With the current price, I consider it to be a great bargain.

This month I have no favourites among sparkling wines. Yet there are some honourable mentions (including some bubbles).

  • 7.5 Alex Craighead Kindeli Verano 2020 is a strange wine to appear here. All my previous experience with Alex Craighead wines was shitty. I still don’t fully understand why I decided to give it a try, but I was pleasantly surprised. Let’s say Kindeli Verano 2020 is the redemption of the month.
  • 8.5 An Approach To Relaxation Sucette 2018 is a delicious red made of Grenache planted somewhere between 1860 and 1880 mixed with 90 years old Grenache. Maybe it’s too developed, but I can’t miss an opportunity to shoot out this otherwise beautiful wine.
  • 8.0 Markus Molitor Wehler Klosterberg Pinot Blanc 2017 is a white with a sophisticated bouquet that combines moss-covered pebbles and mushrooms in the same glass (apart from citrus and fruits). Together with its acidity and balance, I found this Pinot Blanc fascinating.
  • 7.5 Tholomies Crémant de Limoux Brut NV is a not a blockbuster or a life changing bubble. It’s just a well made Crémant de Limoux AOC for a decent price.

Outcasts

This one is simple. And I beg you to put away your rotten tomatoes.

  • 5.5 Beykush Chardonnay Reserve 2019 is the worst wine I tasted this month. And I tasted it blind! I was not expecting it to pop up that evening. They say the bottle was spoiled, but I don’t buy it. I even checked all my notes on every other Beykush wine I tasted, and I found only one decent score - Beykush Arbina 2017 with 7.5. I don’t understand the hype around this winery.
  • 6.0 Weingut Edgar Brutler Saito 2018 was also bad. Not sure what happened here. Usually, Edgar Brutler wines are simple but good. This time it had a foul smell. I was the only one disturbed by it, so 🤷.
  • 7.25 Les Vignes De Paradis Pinot Gris M… 2019 wasn’t bad per se. In my opinion, it doesn’t deserve all the hype around it. My plan is to taste some other macerated Pinot Gris to understand how this combination works.
  • 7.25 I Vigneri Aurora 2019 is a wine I wished to taste for some time. I’ve heard many good words about the producer and this particular wine. But then I had this blind tasting, and I genuinely was disappointed when the bottle was revealed. I know it happens. That’s why we have blind tastings.
  • 7.4 Jauma Audrey’s Fairygarten 2018 is a case where I expected more than I should’ve. My expectations were based on James Erskine’s story and the fact that this wine is made in Adelaide Hills (even though the grapes are sourced from McLaren Vale). Though, I am open to tasting other wines by Jauma.

I think it’s enough. Overall this month was good, so I have nothing to add.

Countries

Every month my top 3 rated countries stay the same. The only thing that changes is the order. So I am more interested in the countries that come below. And the first one is Australia, with an incredibly high average score of 8.03. I guess this is the best illustration of my love for Adelaide Hills.

I am happy to see România and Bulgaria on this list. But having only one wine from New Zealand makes me sad. I was planning to drink more NZ wines this month, yet you see how badly this plan was executed.

Vintages

This month the oldest vintage is 2014. And guess what! In both cases, it was sparkling by Cà del Vént. And while the graph below shows some nice distribution, I want to emphasise one small detail - this month I rated wines of all vintages starting with 2014.

According to my notes, the best vintage in terms of highest average score and QPR is 2017 - 7.84 (excluding 2014, which is not representative because of those gorgeous sparklings).

Grapes

Of course, August was not as festive as July in terms of grapes. This time only 67 grapes vs 82 in the previous month. Yet there are novelties: Negramoll, Mandó, Arcos, Vijariego Negro, Garnacha peluda, Mavrud, and Picpoul. Seven new grapes? I call it a success.

Besides novelties, I am happy to see some other rather rare grapes. Like Ruchè, Grenache Gris, Auxerrois blanc, Listán Negro, and some others. Also, it’s hilarious that Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are constantly at the top of this list.

All ratings

date country producer name vintage rate QPR
2022-08-30 France Domaine Patrick Baudouin Domaine Patrick Baudouin Effusíon 2019 2019 7.50 2.3728
2022-08-29 France Gérard Bertrand Gérard Bertrand An 1618 Picpoul de Pinet 2019 2019 7.00 2.9152
2022-08-28 Spain Hoya de Cadenas Hoya de Cadenas Cava Brut Rosé NV NV 7.00 4.1435
2022-08-27 Germany Tiefgang Tiefgang Kalkstein Spätburgunder Trocken 2017 2017 7.00 3.4722
2022-08-27 Italy Bava Bava Ruché 2019 2019 7.40 1.9411
2022-08-26 Italy COS COS Frappato 2020 2020 7.50 2.1022
2022-08-26 Italy Arianna Occhipinti Arianna Occhipinti SP68 Bianco 2020 2020 7.50 1.8902
2022-08-26 Australia Patrick Sullivan Patrick Sullivan Baw Baw Shire Chardonnay 2019 2019 8.25 2.6763
2022-08-26 Italy Marco De Bartoli Marco De Bartoli Vignaverde 2019 2019 8.00 3.8613
2022-08-26 Italy Valentino Butussi Valentino Butussi Cabernet Franc 2018 2018 7.25 2.7783
2022-08-25 France Tholomies Tholomies Crémant de Limoux Brut NV NV 7.50 3.3849
2022-08-24 Italy Bava Bava Cor de Chasse 2020 2020 7.40 2.1582
2022-08-23 Italy Cà del Vént Cà del Vént Anima Brut Rosé Pas Operé VSQ 2014 2014 8.50 2.2186
2022-08-23 France Matassa Matassa Tattouine Rouge 2020 2020 8.00 2.1978
2022-08-23 New Zealand Alex Craighead Alex Craighead Kindeli Verano 2020 2020 7.50 2.0681
2022-08-23 Spain Victoria E. Torres Pecis Victoria E. Torres Pecis Sin Titulo NG 2017 2017 8.50 3.5273
2022-08-23 Australia Jauma Jauma Audrey’s Fairygarten 2018 2018 7.40 1.9608
2022-08-23 France Anne et J.F. Ganevat Anne et J.F. Ganevat La Bubulle à Jeannot NV NV 7.50 1.7368
2022-08-23 Australia Momento Mori Momento Mori The Incline 2018 2018 8.00 2.1818
2022-08-23 Italy Villa Calicantus Villa Calicantus Chiar’otto Bardolino Classico Chiaretto 2019 2019 7.40 2.1982
2022-08-23 Australia An Approach To Relaxation An Approach To Relaxation Sucette 2018 2018 8.50 2.3029
2022-08-22 France Lucien Albrecht Lucien Albrecht Crémant d’Alsace Brut NV NV 7.40 2.6978
2022-08-21 Germany Witwe Dr. H. Thanisch Erben Müller-Burggraef Witwe Dr. H. Thanisch Erben Müller-Burggraef Bernkasteler Riesling Kabinett Trocken 2020 2020 7.00 2.6198
2022-08-21 Italy Tasca Tasca Tenuta Regaleali Grillo Cavallo Delle Fate 2019 2019 7.25 2.2111
2022-08-20 France Alice et Olivier De Moor Alice et Olivier De Moor Le Vendangeur Masque Caravan 2019 2019 8.00 3.2541
2022-08-20 Germany Tiefgang Tiefgang Kalkstein Spätburgunder Trocken 2016 2016 7.25 4.1384
2022-08-20 France Gérard Bertrand Gérard Bertrand An 825 Crémant de Limoux Brut 2019 2019 7.25 2.0209
2022-08-19 Italy I Vigneri I Vigneri Aurora 2019 2019 7.25 1.1650
2022-08-19 Spain Alta Alella Alta Alella Asarvos 2018 2018 7.25 1.4609
2022-08-19 France Château de Béru Château de Béru Chablis Montserre 2018 2018 8.50 2.5702
2022-08-19 France La Cave Apicole La Cave Apicole Java 2021 2021 7.00 1.6858
2022-08-19 France Bret Brothers Bret Brothers Pouilly-Fuissé Climat La Roche 2017 2017 8.25 1.9207
2022-08-19 Ukraine Beykush Beykush Chardonnay Reserve 2019 2019 5.50 0.7898
2022-08-19 France Domaines Landron Domaines Landron Melonix 2017 2017 7.25 1.6121
2022-08-19 Australia Ochota barrels Ochota barrels slint chardonnay 2020 2020 8.00 2.2857
2022-08-19 Portugal Antonio Madeira Antonio Madeira A Liberdade 2019 2019 7.80 1.5343
2022-08-19 Germany Wasenhaus Wasenhaus Filzen 2018 2018 7.80 1.4869
2022-08-18 Australia Momento Mori Momento Mori Bianco 2019 2019 8.00 2.1108
2022-08-18 Italy Valentina Passalacqua Valentina Passalacqua Calcarius Bombigiana 2019 2019 7.40 2.0172
2022-08-18 Hungary Bencze Bencze Riesling 2019 2019 7.75 3.3029
2022-08-17 Italy Piera Martellozzo Piera Martellozzo Selezione di Piera Onedis Ribolla Gialla NV NV 7.25 2.0045
2022-08-16 France Domaine de la Touraize Domaine de la Touraize Savagnin oxydatif 2016 2016 8.00 2.1427
2022-08-16 Italy Alberto Oggero Alberto Oggero Roero Nebbiolo 2015 2015 7.50 1.7368
2022-08-16 South Africa Sadie Family Sadie Family Skerpioen 2018 2018 8.50 2.6020
2022-08-16 Italy Alessandro Viola Alessandro Viola Le mie Origini 2019 2019 8.00 2.5652
2022-08-16 France Anne et J.F. Ganevat Anne et J.F. Ganevat Les Miracules 2017 2017 8.50 1.9422
2022-08-15 France JM Dreyer JM Dreyer Origin Sylvaner Macération 2020 2020 7.75 2.7816
2022-08-15 Spain Suertes del Marques Suertes del Marques La Solana 2017 2017 7.40 1.8393
2022-08-15 Italy Planeta Planeta Etna Bianco 2019 2019 7.50 2.2263
2022-08-13 Australia Ochota barrels Ochota barrels the price of silence gamay 2019 2019 8.00 2.4072
2022-08-13 Austria Pittnauer Pittnauer Perfect Day 2021 2021 7.25 1.9304
2022-08-13 Italy La Biancara La Biancara Sassaia 2019 2019 7.50 2.5400
2022-08-13 Italy La Biancara La Biancara Sassaia 2018 2018 7.50 2.5400
2022-08-13 Austria Weinbau Wenzel Weinbau Wenzel Blaufränkisch aus dem Kalk 2019 2019 7.50 2.9099
2022-08-13 Spain Ca’ di Mat Ca’ di Mat Andrinal 2017 2017 8.00 4.1937
2022-08-13 Italy Arianna Occhipinti Arianna Occhipinti SP68 Bianco 2020 2020 8.00 2.7351
2022-08-12 Italy Denavolo Denavolo Dinavolino 2020 2020 8.00 3.3058
2022-08-12 Israel Golan Heights Winery Golan Heights Winery Viognier Yarden 2017 2017 7.50 2.9150
2022-08-10 Spain Trossos Trossos Sants 2018 2018 8.00 3.1291
2022-08-10 România Weingut Edgar Brutler Weingut Edgar Brutler Saito 2018 2018 6.00 0.9233
2022-08-09 Germany Markus Molitor Markus Molitor Wehler Klosterberg Pinot Blanc 2017 2017 8.00 2.4565
2022-08-09 France Les Vignes De Paradis Les Vignes De Paradis Pinot Gris M… 2019 2019 7.25 1.8122
2022-08-09 Bulgaria Linar Winery Linar Winery Code: Miss Mavrud 2021 2021 7.00 2.9079
2022-08-08 Spain Frontonio Frontonio Telescópico Garnacha 2017 2017 7.40 1.9608
2022-08-08 Spain Celler del Roure Celler del Roure Parotet 2017 2017 7.40 1.7758
2022-08-08 France Coulee de Serrant Coulee de Serrant Clos de la Bergerie 2017 2017 7.80 0.8855
2022-08-08 Italy Alberto Oggero Alberto Oggero Roero Arneis 2018 2018 7.40 1.8091
2022-08-08 Spain Victoria E. Torres Pecis Victoria E. Torres Pecis Sin Titulo NG 2017 2017 8.50 3.5273
2022-08-08 France Domaine Pinson Domaine Pinson Chablis Premier Cru Montmain 2018 2018 8.25 1.6277
2022-08-08 France Domaine Pinson Domaine Pinson Chablis 2020 2020 8.00 2.6461
2022-08-08 Spain Bimbache Vinicola Bimbache Vinicola Tinto El Hierro 2018 2018 7.50 1.1864
2022-08-06 France Domaine de la Taille Aux Loups Domaine de la Taille Aux Loups Montlouis sur Loire Clos Michet 2019 2019 8.00 1.9200
2022-08-06 Italy Cà del Vént Cà del Vént Memoria Brut Pas Operé VSQ 2014 2014 8.25 1.8152
2022-08-06 Italy Marco De Bartoli Marco De Bartoli Integer Zibibbo 2019 2019 8.00 2.0070
2022-08-02 Italy Brancaia Brancaia Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 2016 8.00 2.0000
2022-08-01 Italy Girolamo Russo Girolamo Russo Etna Rosso A Rina 2017 2017 8.00 2.4633
2022-08-01 Austria Weingut Tement Weingut Tement Blanc 2020 2020 7.50 1.9577

Final words

August was a lazy month for me. It is an obvious conclusion that one might come to by looking at the content and site changes over the last 31 days. Yet I have many plans for the upcoming month.

  1. Slightly rehaul the front page and add more information about this site (including the ‘how to use it’ section).
  2. Post a new installation of Site Updates.
  3. Throw three wine-tasting events (already announced), meaning three reports to post.
  4. Continue my work on a super secret project - Companion App.

That’s enough work for me considering Barberry Garden is a hobby project. In any case, I hope you find it exciting. Let me know what you think, and what content you would love to see here. You can contact me via email or telegram.